Tommee Tippee
Groclock USB Powered Sleep Trainer Clock & Night Light
6/10 overall£24.99
A colour-changing toddler clock that shows a sleeping or awake owl so children learn to stay in bed until it says it is morning.
The verdict
The Groclock is a USB-powered visual sleep-training clock that shows toddlers a sleeping or awake owl face to teach them to stay in bed, best suited to ages 2-6. It's simpler and cheaper than combined sound-and-light devices like the Hatch Rest, but has no sound function, needs a nearby power outlet, and depends on consistent parental reinforcement to work.
Groclock is the Tommee Tippee-badged successor to the original Gro Company clock (Tommee Tippee bought the Gro Company brand), and it does one job: teach a toddler to associate a picture, not a number, with "stay in bed". Ollie the Owl's face shows stars and a sleeping expression at night and switches to a sunny, awake face at the wake time you set, with two programmable times so weekday nap/wake and weekend lie-ins can differ.
It's USB powered rather than battery-only, which is a mixed blessing — no battery changes, but you do need a spare USB adaptor or a spare port since one often isn't included in the box, and a power cut resets the clock unless you replug it promptly. Compared with the Gro Company's original wireless Gro-clock, this loses a bit of portability (it needs to stay near an outlet) but the display is brighter and the character graphics are clearer for children to read from across a dark room.
Best suited to the 2-6 age range once a child understands cause and effect, rather than babies — it won't stop a baby waking early, it only gives a toddler a visual cue once they're old enough to grasp "wait for the sun". As with any sleep-training clock, results depend heavily on consistent parental reinforcement in the first week or two; the clock alone doesn't fix early rising, it just gives you a tool to back up what you're already saying.
Against similar app-connected sleep clocks (Hatch Rest, for instance, which combines sound and light training in one device), the Groclock is simpler and cheaper but single-purpose — no sound machine, no app, just the visual wake cue. For parents who already have a separate white noise machine and just need the toddler bed-training piece, that simplicity is the appeal.
Is the Groclock USB Powered Sleep Trainer Clock & Night Light worth it?
- Clear, simple visual cue toddlers grasp quickly
- Two wake-time presets for weekday vs weekend
- Doubles as a soft night light
What are the downsides of the Groclock USB Powered Sleep Trainer Clock & Night Light?
- USB powered — needs a nearby outlet and sometimes a separate adaptor
- No sound or white noise function, visual only
- Only works once a child is old enough to understand the owl's cue
Specs
- power
- USB powered (3.5mm cable, adaptor not always included)
- display
- Colour-changing Ollie the Owl face, adjustable brightness
- warranty
- 2 years
- dimensions
- 21.9 x 16 x 7cm
- wake_times
- Two programmable times (e.g. weekday/weekend)
- night_light
- Yes, doubles as a comfort light
- recommended_age
- From around 2 years
How we scored it
Sound Quality
How consistent and non-looping the white noise sounds over a full night.
No sound function at all — this is a visual sleep-training clock, not an audio soother, so it scores low on a sound-focused criterion by design.
Ease of Use
How simple it is to set timers, volume and routines without a manual.
Simple two-button setup and an obvious visual cue make it easy for parents and toddlers alike.
Value for Money
Features and battery life relative to price.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the Groclock USB Powered Sleep Trainer Clock & Night Light ourselves yet. This review is built from Tommee Tippee's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £24.99 | £30.00 | £59.95 | £70.00 |
| Overall score | 6/10 | 8.4/10 | 4.3/10 | 7.2/10 |
| power | USB powered (3.5mm cable, adaptor not always included) | — | Mains powered via adaptor | — |
| night_light | Yes, doubles as a comfort light | — | Dim, low-blue amber-toned setting | — |
| Light | — | Dimmable warm night light | — | Custom colour and brightness, schedulable |
Frequently asked questions
What age is the Groclock suitable for?+
It's best suited to the 2-6 age range once a child understands cause and effect — it won't stop a baby waking early, it only gives a toddler old enough to grasp the visual cue a reason to wait for the sun.
Does the Groclock use batteries?+
No — it's USB powered rather than battery-only, so there are no battery changes, but you'll need a spare USB adaptor or port since one isn't always included, and a power cut resets the clock unless replugged promptly.
Does the Groclock play white noise or sounds?+
No — it's visual only, with no sound or white noise function. Parents who already have a separate white noise machine and just want the toddler bed-training piece are the intended audience.
How does the Groclock compare to the Hatch Rest?+
The Groclock is simpler and cheaper, offering just the visual wake cue with two programmable wake times for weekday and weekend, whereas the Hatch Rest combines sound and light training with app control in one device.
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Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.